Hi Tom, "Though the exact date cannot be established Pennybacker moved to Shenandoah Co VA sometime during 1783 or 1784 where he either established or purchased Pine Forge on Smiths Creek southeast of the town of New Market"....He listed in the Shen Co 1785 heads of household census 64 souls, a dwelling and three other buildings there. [from MESDA and written by H E Comstock. May 1981 Vol VII, No 1] BUT there is a deed in Shen Co in Book F page 90--29 June 1786 where Derk Pennybacker & Benj. Fawcett purchased from Mounce Bird and Clair his wife a tract on Smith Creek "whereon now the mill stands & part of the forge being the same Bird purchased of Burr Harrison & William Strother.. including the mills and about three acres of land. And going back some more to Book C page 140 -- 15 Jul 1777 is the deed that records when Mounce Bird purchased the above tract from Harrison & Strother. Only Burr Harrisons Mill "is now standing on about 3 acres of land. No mention of the Forge in this deed. Lena F. Fuller

Thanks Lena and others, I'm familiar with the deeds and the general story is self-consistent but I'm looking for something more. I'm probably being hard-headed but I don't accept an omission in a deed as strong evidence. The other funny thing is why only part of the forge would be on the three acres. Tom > Hi Tom, "Though the exact date cannot be established Pennybacker moved to > Shenandoah Co VA sometime during 1783 or 1784 where he either established or > purchased Pine Forge on Smiths Creek southeast of the town of New > Market"....He listed in the Shen Co 1785 heads of household census 64 > souls, a dwelling and three other buildings there. [from MESDA and written > by H E Comstock. May 1981 Vol VII, No 1] > > BUT there is a deed in Shen Co in Book F page 90--29 June 1786 where Derk > Pennybacker & Benj. Fawcett purchased from Mounce Bird and Clair his wife a > tract on Smith Creek "whereon now the mill stands & part of the forge being > the same Bird purchased of Burr Harrison & William Strother.. including the > mills and about three acres of land. > > And going back some more to Book C page 140 -- 15 Jul 1777 is the deed that > records when Mounce Bird purchased the above tract from Harrison & > Strother. Only Burr Harrisons Mill "is now standing on about 3 acres of > land. No mention of the Forge in this deed. > > Lena F. Fuller > > ==== VASHENAN Mailing List ==== > Shenandoah Co VAGenWeb > http://www.rootsweb.com/~vashenan/vashenan.html